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Sunday, August 27, 2017

QUICK SPINS

Brand New – Science Fiction

There are a select batch of artists that turn the release of
a record into an event – Radiohead, Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, Jay Z, Kanye West,
and Long Island emo survivors Brand New. The quartet have been cryptic with
fans about the release of what is said to be their final record for years and
earlier this month, they surprised everyone with Science Fiction. The record,
peppered in personal and powerful undertones of surviving a scene, getting old,
figuring out your life and wanting to leave a legacy behind has been rolled up
into Science Fiction. Eight years after they released Daisy, Brand New have
once again reinvented their sound with a less aggressive and more mature style
that shows how full circle their progress has come since their 2001 debut, the
essential pop-punk listening of Your Favorite Weapon. Science Fiction is a band
trying to destroy the identity of the band they once were by becoming something
they always wanted – an art rock band.

The world’s favorite stoner rockers return with record
chock-full-of groovy rhythms, slick rock and roll, and catchy tunes. With Mark
Ronson behind the decks as the sole producer of Villains, the British DJ and
artist helps bring the uptown funk to the California dessert as he and Queens
keep their fingerprint on a whole new sound. While it isn’t a total 180, they
remain true to themselves while daring to take a bold new step that works
perfectly.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Nine Inch Nails – Add Violence EP

The second of three planned EPs for 2017, Trent Renzor
releases what might be the more aggressive of the three and throws back a punch
that has not been heard since With Teeth-era NIN.

The former Odd Future ringleader returns with his most
personal, private, and autobiographical record to date. Since the release of
his outstanding Goblin, in 2011, Tyler, has been slowly revealing who he is to
the world, now, with Flower Boy, it fully blossoms. He confronts himself about
his sexuality, who he is as an artist, and how it is time to grow up.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Grizzly Bear – Painted Ruins

The low-fi indie rock favorites with a record that has more
of a pulse than some of their previous efforts and that is thanks to part to
some actual upbeat songs and not just an album filled with moody harmonies and
dark undertones.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Gogol Bordello – Seekers and Finders

In the age of Donald Trump and Theresa May, where anyone who
was not born in their respective countries needs to get out – here comes Gogol
Bordello to once again remind us the importance of immigrants, other cultures,
and creeds. The gypsy punks have just put out what could be their most
important record and a weapon in the fight against ugly nationalism while still
sounding as if they are having the time of their lives. Like other releases
from the band, it is a party and learning experience.

FINAL GRADE: B+

EMA – Exile in the Outer Ring

On her third record, EMA, pushes herself
and the sounds she has crafted on her own to find herself going into a deep,
mysterious, unknown rabbit hole of creativity and curiosity.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Ghostpoet – Dark Days and Canapés

The tender and timid British electro singer releases what we
like to call an “end of the night” record for the summer. After coming home
from a night out, this is one that you want to put on and unwind to while
having a nightcap. The soulful and blip-filled disc continues to make Ghostpoet
one of the more interesting and underrated artists out there today.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Unkle – The Road

After seven years away, the mysterious and intense
electronic group are back with help from Primal Scream’s
Andrew Innes, Queen of the Stone Age’s Troy Van Leeuwan, Dhani Harrison, Mark
Lanegan, ESKA, Keaton Henson, and the Duke Spirit’s Liela Moss. The Road is a
journey through space and time and our captains are Unkle.

FINAL GRADE: B

Dead Cross

The self-titled debut album from the
supergroup containing Mike Patton, Dave Lombardo, and Retox’s Justin Pearson,
Michael Crain, is a as straight forward as it gets for someone like the Faith
No More front man. However, adding the other monsters to the mix makes the
record worth listening to.

FINAL GRADE: B

Iron and Wine – Beast Epic

The singer / songwriter is back with a
new collection of songs that just extends his vast and solid catalogue.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Rainer Maria

The self-titled reunion record from the indie heroes is a
safe return to form and will certainly make old fans happy to hear new tracks.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Guided By Voices – How Do You Spell Heaven

The second release of 2017 from the indie rock titans at
first came out as a surprise since earlier this year they put out the very good
and very long double album, August by Cake. Now, the quick follow-up is How Do
You Spell Heaven, which continues the legacy of this band that does not want to
stop but it might just be too much music for one year.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Washed Out-Mister Mellow

The shoegaze artist is back with a record that is perfect
for the last days of summer. As anxiety about school, work, and the fall, heats
up, this is an album that will help you mellow out.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Big Boi – Boomiverse

The Outkast rapper returns with a new solo record that is a
solid effort and a bit middle of the road. Boomiverse has decent beats and
rhymes from the hip-hop icon as well as special guests Killer Mike, Gucci
Maine, Adam Levine and production from Organized Noise and Scott Storch, it
falls flat in the age of young guns like Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, and Vince
Staples.

FINAL GRADE: C

TLC

The long-awaited new album from the R&B group has
finally arrived and it is not very memorable. It contains the spirit of the
band but lacks the unity without the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez and it might
have been too long away from the scene for T-Boz and Chili to fully pull out
their potential.

FINAL GRADE: C

Action Bronson – Blue Chips 7000

The Blue Chips series for Action Bronson has been some of
his best material after Well Done and Bon Appetite.. Bitch, yet, since the
Queens rapper has gone mainstream with his various Vice shows, hanging with
Mario Batalli, and inking a major label deal, rap has been his backup plan. On
his second record for Atlantic Records, following the abysmal Mr. Wonderful,
Blue Chips 7000 doesn’t even deserve to be named after the stellar series it
comes from. The record lacks focus and creativity. If Bronson wasn’t too busy
with everything else in his life, including a new cook book arriving next
month, and focused on his music, what he should be turning into Atlantic are
classics not middle of the road and uninspiring records.

In the past, it was always easy to take aim at Coldplay for
their sensitive and tender sound but they took it on the chin and released
great records like Parachutes, A Rush of Blood to the Head, Viva La Vida, and
even X&Y. They were creative artists that were paving their own way, they
2011 happened and since the unlistenable Mylo Xyloto, they are just a pop band
that tries really hard, a little too hard at making radio friendly pop songs.
With the exception of the somber Ghost Stories, nearly everything the British
band has put out in six years has been manufactured crap and their latest EP is
another victim of that. Why bother at this point releasing anything? Why bother
trying to please anyone if all you want to do is be on the radio and not
fulfill a creative hole? If that is what the band wants, fine, do it, just don’t
expect it to be good.